About Us

The global burden of gun violence accounts for more than 250,000 deaths worldwide, and half of these deaths occur in just six countries – all in the Americas. This public health and humanitarian crisis has significant challenges, requiring multiple policy and program approaches for making our respective nations healthy and safe.

The Network to Prevent Gun Violence in the Americas was formed to bring together health professionals, human rights advocates, arms trade specialists, and violence prevention activists to to focus on challenges ahead and find solutions to address gun violence in Mexico and Central America. Affiliated organizations include: Anahuac University; Center for American Progress; Consortium of Universities for Global Health; Forum on the Arms Trade; Global Exchange / Stop US Arms to Mexico project; Medical University of Wisconsin Office of Global Health; MetroPeace; Newtown Action Alliance. Read more. You can also Watch this overview.

If you would like to further connect with the Network for the Prevention of Gun Violence in the Americas, please complete this survey and we will be in contact with you.

Consortium of Universities for Global Health Conference Satellite Session March 8, 2021

Gun Violence in Mexico and Central America: The Challenge and Paths to Solutions

With presentations by Arturo Cervantes, Estefania Vela, Robert Muggah, Lucía Chávez, Stephen Hargarten, Eugenio Weigend, John Lindsay-Poland, Katherine Aguirre, and María Rodríguez

Watch here.

Policy Brief

Gun violence is a growing global public health problem, especially in the Americas. This policy brief outlines the problem and offers recommendations for the Biden administration. Read the Policy Brief.

2020 Webinar Series Monograph

A series of webinars in 2020 highlighted whether through illegal channels or through legal exports, the flow of U.S. guns has an impact on security and stability in Mexico and Central American countries. Often under-examined is how these weapons affect violence against vulnerable populations.  At the webinars, experts discussed how populations in these countries face unique risks and challenges related to gun violence while also identifying policies and actions to address them. The webinars reached a wide global audience, with participation from around the World including Austria, Australia, Belize, Brazil, Columbia, El Salvador, Germany, Mexico, United Kingdom, and the United States of America (U.S). Read the full monograph. Read the full monograph.

Resources

on Gun Violence in Mexico and Central America

Leer las columnas de Victor Andrade, M.D., del Instituto Anáhuac de Salud Pública de la Universidad de Anáhuac en México, que aparecen en Milenio, enfocados en prevención de violencia con armas de fuego en la región.

Armas de fuego en México y Centroamérica: Enfoques nacionales para frenar el flujo y uso de armas​

Webinar: 28 de mayo de 2020

México y el Triángulo Norte de Centroamérica sufren de altísimos niveles de homicidios y otra violencia cometida con armas de fuego. ¿Cuáles son los mecanismos e impactos de esta violencia con armas? ¿Y qué políticas y acciones se pueden tomar en la región para enfrentar este flagelo? En este webinar, periodistas e investigadoras exponen del mercado de armas, su impacto humano, y proponen políticas y estrategias para frenar la violencia de armas de fuego México, Honduras, El Salvador y Guatemala.

Panelistas: Montserrat Martínez, Coordinadora de Investigación, 24-0 (México) Mark Ungar, Brooklyn College Suchit Chávez, periodista salvadoreña Natalia Báez Zamudio, Comisión Mexicana por la Defensa y Promoción de Derechos Humanos Moderadora: Suhayla Bazbaz, Inovación Social (México)

Auspiciado por: Global Exchange; 24-0; Forum on the Arms Trade; Stop US Arms to Mexico; Universidad Anahuac; Medical College of Wisconsin; John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.

About Us

Convened initially by Dr. Stephen Hargarten of the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Network planned a conference in Washington in April 2020 together with the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. When the COVID19 pandemic forced the conference’s postponement, the Network organized a series of webinars with experts from around the Americas. This page brings together webcasts, sources materials, and event announcements. Soon we will post advocacy recommendations based on these rich encounters.